Every year, the Hartford School Budget Public Hearing is the same date and time as the May Town Board meeting.  People cannot be at two places at the same time.  Once, a couple of years ago in May, Phil Gibson complained that the Town Board meeting was at the same time as the School Public Hearing.  I thought he had a valid point. 

Last year, since I was now Supervisor, I was unable to go to the School Budget Public Hearing. School Superintendent Tom Abraham Told me that only one person showed up and did not have many questions.  I feel it is very important for the tax paying citizens to be aware of what the budget process involves and to take part in it.

The school budget is almost 9 times the size of the Town Budget.

At our last Town Board meeting I brought up the idea of rescheduling our May Town Board meeting to another day.  The Town Board decided to move its Town Board meeting date to the next Tuesday which is May 17th.

So, on Tuesday night, May 10th you can go to the School Budget Public Hearing and participate, then come to the town Board meeting the next week.

In today’s Post Star newspaper, the editors gave the students at Hartford Central School a “Bravo” for their efforts in raising over 477 pounds of food for the Hartford Food Pantry. The FFA club at the school organized the effort and it is much appreciated by the Town, Pantry, and persons in need.

This Sunday, resident Pete Klaiber who helps run the pantry out of the Baptist Church, attended the Methodist Church services and gave a food pantry report.  His report included the following info;

The food pantry has come a long way since opening its doors in Jan 2002.  That first year had some wooden shelving donated in a small room in back of the church and served a mere 120 people consisting of 36 households. In fact, so few people came that first year that Pete wondered if it was worth the effort.

Through the years the number of clients has gradually increased almost twelve fold to the point where last year the Pantry served 1,410 persons consisting of 464 households.

The Pantry continues to be well supported by the community churches as well as the surrounding organizations and individuals throughout the town and county.

One corporate supporter is Irving Tissue in Ft. Edward. Most all of the clients that come to the Pantry are also eligible for Food Stamps, but you cannot buy toilet tissue, soap, etc with Food Stamps. Irving has made multiple donations of large factory cases of toilet paper, paper towels, and Kleenex. Last month the Pantry got a check from them for $500 as well. 

Residents Harrison Cornell, Jean Aubrey, Arlene Ingersol, John & Mary Fox, Pete Klaiber, and Pastor Mike have all generously donated their time and effort in making the Pantry the success that it is. Keith and Marlene Brynes (thru Keith’s business) continue their very generous donation of bread and bread products each day the Pantry is open.

The Pantry also accepts cash donations. For every $1 they take in, the Pantry can purchase $12 worth of food from the Regional Food Bank.

The Pantry is open every other Saturday from 9am till 1030am. In these times of economic trouble and a very tough winter, any money saved by the clients in getting food could then go towards buying heat for the home.

If you can find it in you, please donate to the pantry so that some poor soul will not have to go to bed both cold and hungry.

The Hartford Town Board has appointed seven persons to serve on a Steering Committee that will work on creating either an Economic Development Corp (EDC) or a Local Development Corp (LDC).

A Hartford Development Corp would be focused on enticing beneficial businesses into town, or encourage and assist citizens of the town in starting a business. New businesses in town will increase our local employment and increase our tax base. 

The Steering Committee members are; Emily Oswald, Michael Deyoe, Paul Miller, Ron Smith, Ron Combs, Steve Forbes, and Bill Donaldson.

An EDC or LDC are very similar in nature but with some minor differences. This Steering Committee with work with the Town Attorney thru workshops, etc to create a Development Corp and advise the Town in the direction to go. The first workshop will take place on 4/5/11.

Once a Development Corp. has been formed, members of this steering committee would be eligible to be appointed as its Board of Directors.

This Development Corp. would be a quasi-governmental type. This means that the Town Board would appoint the Development Board of Directors and provide funding to operate.